Systems and methods of rf power transmission, modulation, and amplification

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, system, and method are provided for energy conversion. For example, the apparatus can include a trans-impedance node, a reactive element, and a trans-impedance circuit. The reactive element can be configured to transfer energy to the trans-impedance node. The trans-impedance circuit can be configured to receive one or more control signals and to dynamically adjust an impedance of the trans-impedance node. The trans-impedance node, as a result, can operate as an RF power switching supply based on the one or more control signals.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/541,201 (Atty. Docket No. 1744.2360002), filed Nov. 14, 2014, titled “Systems and Methods of RF Power Transmission, Modulation, and Amplification,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/442,706 (Atty. Docket No. 1744.2360001), filed Apr. 9, 2012, titled “Systems and Methods of RF Power Transmission, Modulation, and Amplification,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/457,487 (Atty. Docket No. 1744.2360000), filed Apr. 8, 2011, titled “Systems and Methods of RF Power Transmission, Modulation, and Amplification,” all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/256,172, filed Oct. 24, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,723 (Atty. Docket No. 1744.1900006), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/508,989, filed Aug. 24, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,355,470 (Atty. Docket No. 1744.2160001), and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/236,079, filed Sep. 23, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,911,272 (Atty. Docket No. 1744.2260000), all of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to systems and methods of RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification. More particular, embodiments of the present invention relate to energy conversion from an AC or DC power source to a modulated RF carrier signal.

2. Background

A switched non-linear power supply is an electronic power supply that transfers power from a power source (e.g., AC or DC power source) to a load, while converting voltage and current characteristics. An advantage of switched power supplies, among others, over linear power supplies is power efficiency. Other advantages of switched power supplies over linear power supplies are their smaller size, lighter weight, and lower heat generation (due to their higher power efficiency). Typically, switched or non-linear power supplies are used as DC-to-DC or AC-to-DC converters for the purpose of generating a specific DC voltage.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention utilize elements of switching or non-linear power supply architectures and design techniques to generate a modulated RF carrier signal.

An embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus for energy conversion. The apparatus can include the following: a trans-impedance node; a reactive element configured to transfer energy to the trans-impedance node; and, a trans-impedance circuit configured to receive one or more control signals and to dynamically adjust an impedance of the trans-impedance node, where the trans-impedance node generates an RF signal based on the one or more control signals. The reactive element can be an inductor, where the inductor can store and transfer energy from an AC or a DC power source to the trans-impedance node. The trans-impedance circuit can include a multiple input/single output (MISO) operator. The MISO operator can be configured to reduce power flow into the trans-impedance node towards the MISO operator and to increase power flow towards an output. Further, the trans-impedance circuit can be configured to generate a plurality of variable dynamic load lines at the trans-impedance node based on the one or more control signals.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a system for energy conversion. The system can include a power source, an energy converter, a matching network, and an antenna. The energy converter can include the following: a trans-impedance node; a reactive element configured to transfer energy from the power source to the trans-impedance node; and, a trans-impedance circuit configured to receive one or more control signals and to dynamically adjust an impedance of the trans-impedance node, where the trans-impedance node generates an RF signal based on the one or more control signals. Further, the energy converter can be fabricated on a separate chip from the power source, matching network, and antenna.

A further embodiment of the present invention includes a method for energy conversion. The method can include the following: transferring energy from a reactive element to a trans-impedance node; receiving, at a trans-impedance circuit, one or more control signals; and, dynamically adjusting, with the trans-impedance circuit, an impedance of the trans-impedance node, where the trans-impedance node generates an RF signal based on the one or more control signals. The transferring step can include transferring energy from an AC or a DC power source to the trans-impedance node. The dynamically adjusting step can include reducing power flow into the trans-impedance node towards a multiple input/single output (MISO) operator and increasing power flow towards an output away from the MISO operator. Further, the dynamically adjusting step can include generating a plurality of variable dynamic load lines at the trans-impedance node based on the one or more control signals.

Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art based on the teachings contained herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of an energy conversion system.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an energy conversion system with exemplary waveforms associated therewith.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an embodiment of an energy conversion system with a multiple input/single output (MISO) operator.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary set of fixed load lines for a bipolar junction transistor.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary set of variable dynamic load lines generated by a MISO operator, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary sequence of class transitioning for a MISO-based energy converter design, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an embodiment of a method for energy conversion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that illustrate exemplary embodiments consistent with this invention. Other embodiments are possible, and modifications can be made to the embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the detailed description is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

It would be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that the present invention, as described below, can be implemented in many different embodiments of software, hardware, firmware, and/or the entities illustrated in the figures. Thus, the operational behavior of embodiments of the present invention will be described with the understanding that modifications and variations of the embodiments are possible, given the level of detail presented herein.

This specification discloses one or more embodiments that incorporate the features of this invention. The disclosed embodiment(s) merely exemplify the invention. The scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s). The invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.

The embodiment(s) described, and references in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment(s) described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is understood that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

An energy converter can convert electrical energy of one type to electrical energy of another type. The statistics of an input potential energy to the energy converter can be different from the statistics of output energy from the energy converter. For example, the conversion of one statistic at an input of the energy converter to a different statistic at an output of the energy converter can be subject to information entropy (which can be modulated onto an output waveform) and the nature of the energy conversion apparatus at the input. With this definition of an energy converter, which is used throughout the specification, any form of electrical energy (e.g., AC or DC energy) can be consumed at the input of the energy converter and modulated to produce a desired modulated RF carrier at the output of the energy converter. Therefore, the term “energy converter” has a specific meaning as used in the description below.

The above definition of “energy converter” contrasts characteristics of a traditional amplifier. For example, as would be understood by a person skilled in the relevant art, a traditional amplifier is not designed to accept an input that possesses an arbitrary statistic with respect to an output of the amplifier. Rather, amplifiers are typically designed to reproduce the essential statistic of the input at its output with additional power increase due to a power supply of the amplifier that is consumed during the amplification process.

Further, for typical amplifier designs, the input to the amplifier must possess a carrier frequency consistent with the output of the amplifier and the cross-correlation of the input and output should be as close to 1 as possible or meet minimum output waveform requirements of the amplifier. For example, a traditional amplifier requires a modulated RF carrier signal to be coupled to its input and an amplified version of the input modulated RF carrier signal at the output. This requirement is in addition to accounting for noise and non-linearities in the amplifier design.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of an energy conversion system 100. Energy conversion system 100 is configured to convert electrical energy from a power source (e.g., AC or DC power source) into a modulated RF carrier signal. In an embodiment, energy conversion system 100 can reproduce baseband I/Q data (from control circuit 150) as RF amplitude, frequency, phase modulation at an RF Pout node 160. A benefit of energy conversion system 100, among others, is that the conversion system minimizes energy lost (entropy) in converting energy from power source 110 to the modulated RF carrier signal at RF Pout node 160, as a person skilled in the relevant art will recognize based on the description herein.

Energy conversion system 100 includes a power source 110, an energy converter 120, a matching network 130, an antenna 140, and a control circuit 150. For exemplary purposes, power source 110 is depicted as a DC power source (e.g., a battery). However, based on the description herein, a person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that power source 110 can be other types of power sources such as, for example and without limitation, an AC power source. These other types of power sources are within the spirit and scope of the embodiments described herein.

In an embodiment, power source 110, energy converter 120, matching network 130, antenna 140, control circuit 150, or a combination thereof can be integrated on the same chip (e.g., system on a chip). In another embodiment, energy converter 120 can be integrated on a single chip, receive an energy input from external power source 110, receive one or more control signals from external control circuit 150, and deliver an output signal to external matching network 130. For example, energy converter 120 can be fabricated on a monolithic silicon die (e.g., SiGe).

Matching network 130 is configured to provide an impedance path between energy converter 120 and RF Pout node 160 to maximize power transfer and/or minimize reflections from RF Pout node 160. In an embodiment, matching network 130 includes a DC block, an RF filter, and an RF load (not shown in FIG. 1). Antenna 140 is configured to transmit the modulated RF carrier signal. Matching circuits and antennas are well known to a person skilled in the relevant art.

Energy converter 120 includes a reactive element 122 and a trans-impedance circuit 124. Reactive element 122 can be an inductor L according to an embodiment of the present invention. Trans-impedance circuit 124 receives one or more control signals from control circuit 150. In an embodiment, the one or more control signals (also referred to herein as “an information stream”) can be derived from in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) phase data streams. In another embodiment, the information stream can be translated into serial sigma-delta format with a separate synchronous clock.

In yet another embodiment, algorithms associated with trans-impedance circuit 124 can be non-linear and feed forward, in which the information stream received by trans-impedance circuit 124 can be parsed into two more parallel paths. These two or more parallel paths are also referred to herein as “information control paths.” The information stream can be parsed into one or more amplitude information control paths, one or more phase information control paths, one or more frequency information control paths, or a combination thereof, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Each of the information control paths can distribute a portion of the total input information entropy augmented by the non-linear mappings of the algorithms from trans-impedance circuit 124. In an embodiment, the information control paths can be further partitioned into an upper branch circuitry and a lower branch circuitry to accommodate particular technologies and applications.

Based on the description herein, a person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other types of data streams can provide the information stream to trans-impedance circuit 124. These other types of data streams are within the spirit and scope of the embodiments described herein.

In referring to FIG. 1, in an embodiment, energy converter 120 is configured to transfer energy from power source 110 to an RF carrier by varying the impedance of an RF output to create a trans-impedance node 126 that can directly convert the energy from power source 110. Trans-impedance node 126 generates an RF signal and operates as an RF switching power supply (e.g., DC to RF switching power supply or AC to RF switching power supply), according to an embodiment of the present invention. In turn, trans-impedance node 126 provides an efficient transfer of energy from power supply 110 to an RF carrier at RF Pout node 160. FIG. 2 is an illustration of energy conversion system 100 with exemplary waveforms at an input to energy converter 120 (e.g., DC waveform), trans-impedance node 126, and RF Pout node 160.

Trans-impedance node 126 has a complex impedance that is dynamic in nature and also has a one-to-one correspondence with a modulation complex envelope, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The impedance of trans-impedance node 126 is complex such that phase and magnitude of the modulation complex envelope can be rendered at RF Pout node 160. The real component of the impedance to ground at trans-impedance node 126 is managed to minimize real power loss given a real load. Since the load has at least a partially real component, an optimal conjugate match to trans-impedance circuit 124, reactive element 122, and power supply 110 is obtained through matching network 130 and the effective impedance of trans-impedance node 126 also having a real component. The complex component of the impedance of trans-impedance node 126 does not consume power, but can alter the power conveyed to the load. Likewise, a real component of zero ohms or infinity does not consume power at trans-impedance node 126.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of energy conversion system 100 with an embodiment of trans-impedance circuit 124. For simplicity purposes, control circuit 150 is not depicted in FIG. 3. Trans-impedance circuit 124 includes a multiple input/single output (MISO) operator 310, in which MISO operator 310 includes multiple inputs configured to provide one or more functions to control trans-impedance node 126. In an embodiment, the multiple inputs to MISO operator 310 can be information control paths partitioned into an upper branch and a lower branch, as discussed above. The information control paths that serve as inputs to MISO operator 310 can be directly or indirectly utilized by MISO operator 310 to integrate the original information entropy (e.g., provided by control circuit 150) in a form that optimally controls the complex impedance of trans-impedance node 126. Each baseband information input sample to MISO operator 310 can have a corresponding unique complex impedance sample at trans-impedance node 126, according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is because trans-impedance node 126 is at a location in energy converter 120 that corresponds to the culmination of a mathematical operation. Thus, MISO operator 310 can be considered as applying a mathematical “function” or “operation” to the information control paths (e.g., inputs to MISO operator 310) such that the impedance at trans-impedance node 126 can vary.

Exemplary details on the operation of MISO operator 310 and related concepts can be in U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,723 to Sorrells et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,355,470 to Sorrells et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,911,272 to Sorrells et al., all of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

In referring to FIG. 3, in an embodiment, RF carrier phase and magnitude envelope are generated from power source 110 (e.g., a AC or DC power source) and energy reactive element 122 of energy converter 120. Energy reactive element 122 interacts with the dynamic nature of trans-impedance node 126. The load at RF Pout node 160 is AC coupled so that an average waveform value generated by the interaction between power supply 110, energy reactive element 122, and trans-impedance node 126 can be blocked while permitting RF currents to flow to the load. In an embodiment, with MISO operator 310, power flow can be minimized into trans-impedance node 360 towards the MISO operator and maximized towards the load. In addition, undesired harmonics and spurious responses can be reduced by matching network 130.

In contrast to the MISO operator implementation of FIG. 3, a traditional amplifier implementation significantly differs in operation. For example, the traditional amplifier would receive an RF input signal at a specific power and frequency, add power from a power source, and increase the power of the RF input signal at the amplifier's output to generate a desired RF output signal. In the case of the traditional amplifier, the input frequency and information content of the complex carrier envelope should not be altered significantly to allow the amplifier to generate the desired RF output signal. Energy converter 120, however, is an apparatus that is configured to convert energy from power source 110 to a dynamic impedance at trans-impedance node 126 through algorithms of MISO operator 310 and control circuit 150 (not shown in FIG. 3), according to an embodiment of the present invention. Using this process, minimal energy flows into MISO operator 310 via trans-impedance node 126 and maximal energy flows to the load. Further, unlike the traditional amplifier, the inputs to MISO operator 310 are not amplified. Rather, the inputs to MISO operator are used to control trans-impedance node 126 to generate a desired RF output signal.

Due to the dynamic nature of trans-impedance node 126, as discussed above, a variable dynamic load line is created by energy converter 120. Before discussing the variable dynamic load line of energy converter 120, the concept of a fixed load line will be discussed in order to highlight the differences between the two types of load lines.

The fixed load line is a specific means for mapping a transfer characteristic for a given input waveform to an amplifier's output waveform. The meaning has universally been applied to various electrical applications such as, for example, vacuum tube and transistor amplifier circuits. In one example, for a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), a load line can relate collector current and collector voltage to the BJT's transfer characteristic through the reflection of a locus of points whose domain is projected or mapped into the collector voltage and current, constrained by the base current of the transistor. That is, variation of the base current corresponds to variation of collector current and voltage, given a particular load, for a common emitter configuration of a BJT amplifier. FIG. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary set of fixed load lines 400 for a BJT, each tailored for varying operational conditions, depicted by defined slopes. As would be understood by a person skilled in the relevant art, field-effect transistors (FETs) as well as BJTs can be characterized in this manner.

In reference to FIG. 4, set of fixed load lines 400 is used when only the input operating bias currents I_(B) _(k) of the BJT vary. The intersection of the I_(B) curves and the load line may be reflected horizontally and projected to intersect the vertical or I_(C) axis. Likewise, the intersection of the I_(B) curves and the load line may be reflected vertically to project an intersection with the horizontal or V_(C) axis as well. In this manner, an operating region for the transistor is established for a corresponding variation of I_(B).

In contrast to set of fixed load lines 400 depicted in FIG. 4, a load line is considered variable and/or dynamic when its slope changes. Different classes of amplifiers are accompanied by different load lines and different static or quiescent operating points along the load line, as would be understood by a person skilled in the relevant art. As discussed above with respect to FIG. 3, MISO operator 310 is not a traditional amplifier. As such, the term “variable dynamic load line” is used herein to highlight the differences between the fixed load lines of the traditional amplifier and the characteristic load lines generated by MISO operator 310. Therefore, based on the description herein, a person skilled in the relevant art will recognize distinctions between the definition for “variable dynamic load line” and traditional or legacy definitions of amplifier load lines.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary set of variable dynamic load lines 500 generated by MISO operator 310 of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, I_(L) _(MISO) is the current flowing from the power source toward MISO operator 310 and RF Pout node 160. V_(L) _(MISO) is the voltage at trans-impedance node 126 whenever power source 110 and RF Pout node 160 are connected via energy converter 120. V_(Pk) represents a family of curves relating the instantaneous amplitude of the signal to be reproduced to the effective trans-impedance V_(L) _(MISO) /I_(L) _(MISO) . In an embodiment, energy converter 120 can be tailored “on the fly” per sample to simultaneously modify the slope as V_(Pk) increases, thus making the load line variable and/or dynamic.

The trajectory or locus of points through this space is illustrated in FIG. 5 for the composite affect. This composite affect produced by MISO operator 310 produces a variable dynamic load line. MISO operator 310 can be programmed to permit any trajectory through this space, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A typical trajectory is illustrated in FIG. 5 for exemplary and explanation purposes and it is not meant to be limiting.

As discussed above, energy converter 120 can vary its load line in real-time. As a result, energy converter 120 can continuously create variable classes of RF amplification—e.g., from linear RF amplification to switch mode RF amplifier classes, as well as hybrid modes. As would be understood by a person skilled in the relevant art, the most linear class is A and there are several classes which are nonlinear such as, for example, classes E, F, and D. Class S by the strictest definition is not an amplifier class; rather, it is a modulator class. However, the attributes of the output stages of a class S modulator are often associated with nonlinear amplification.

The dynamic nature of energy converter 120, as discussed above, introduces an apparatus that can operate over a continuum of classes, as energy converter 120 permits a continuum of points along a continuum of load lines. At any instant, the operating point of energy converter 120 may or may not correspond to traditional or legacy definitions for amplifier classes (e.g., classes A, D, E, and F). However, as would be understood by a person skilled in the relevant art, the conduction angle at any instance in time and at any operating point can be determined for energy converter 120 and, thus, can be related to a traditional or legacy amplifier class definition.

From the view of attempting to categorize the dynamic nature of energy converter 120, it is recommended that whenever the analogy (from the view of classical amplifier design) of class transitioning is used then the sequences depicted in FIG. 6 should be considered for the embodiments disclosed herein. Furthermore, in the case of a MISO-based design (e.g., MISO operator 310 of FIG. 3), the MISO class is an analogous term based on the variable dynamic load line concept discussed above and is not meant to necessarily imply that an actual amplifier must be employed as a MISO function. The IEEE recognizes and provides precise definitions for amplifier classes. Based on the description herein, a person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the class of operation for energy converter 120 is not restricted to those definitions and can accommodate by definition a trajectory of points through the analogous variable dynamic load line space.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an embodiment of a method 700 for energy conversion. The steps of FIG. 7 can be performed using, for example, energy conversion system 100 of FIGS. 1-3.

In step 710, energy is transferred from a reactive element to a trans-impedance node. In an embodiment, the transferred energy can be derived from an AC power source or a DC power source such as, for example, power source 110 of FIGS. 1-3.

In step 720, a trans-impedance circuit receives one or more control signals. In an embodiment, the one or more control signals can be integrated into a function or operation of a multiple input/single output (MISO) operator (e.g., MISO operator 310 of FIG. 3).

In step 730, an impedance of the trans-impedance node can be dynamically adjusted by the trans-impedance circuit. As a result, the trans-impedance node can operate as an RF switching power supply based on the one or more control signals, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, the dynamically adjusting step can include reducing power flow into the trans-impedance node towards the MISO operator and increasing power flow towards an output away from the MISO operator. Further, in an embodiment, the dynamically adjusting step can include generating a plurality of variable dynamic load lines at the trans-impedance node based on the one or more control signals.

It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and not the Summary and Abstract sections, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventors, and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the relevant art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.

The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a trans-impedance node; a reactive element configured to transfer energy to the trans-impedance node; and a trans-impedance circuit configured to receive control signals and to adjust an impedance of the trans-impedance node. 